Speed-indicator.



J. L. HALL.

SPEED INDICATOR.

APPLICATION FILED PEB.28,1906.

Patented Oct. 27, 1908.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Inventor: ,QJ ZZ; John L.H II.

by M

JIttg.

Witnesses: i7

J. .L. HALL.

SPEED INDIGATOR.

APPLIGATION FILED IEB.2B,190B.

902,074. Patented 0011.27, 1908.

2 SHEETS-SHEET Z.

Witnesses Inventor:

John 1.. Hall,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN L. HALL, OF SCHENEC'IADY, EW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, A CORPORATION OI NEW YORK.

SPEED -INDIGATOR.

Specification 61 Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 27, 1908.

Application filed February as, 1900. Serial No. 303,807.

a given time; the arrangement being such that fractions of the indicator unit may be accurately shown, that high speeds may be attained without error or danger. to the device and that speed will be indicated in either direction without change of connections and with equal accuracy and simplicity.

My speed indicator ispreferably' adapted for use at a point remote fiom the moving part the speed of which is to be indicated, and as a mode of transmitting the movements to a distant oint I have found that the electric current urnishes a method which is extremely convenient, accurate and simple.

In carrying out my invention Iprovlde, in connection with the shaft or other rotating part, a commutating device whereby a multi-phase current-preferably threephase-is furnished to a motor of corre sponding number of phases so that the speed of rotation of the motor wi 1 be proportional to the speed of the shaft. Geared to the motor and constantly driven thereby is a revolving member rovided with a magnetic clutch adapted to be Periodically energizedsayat mtervals o five seconds so as to lock the rotating member to a second member loosely mounted adjacent thereto but biased to return when released. .This

second member as it moves forward advances a pointer which is likewise sprin returned, but which is normally prevente from returnin by a brake or similar. device which is not, owever, sufiicient to prevent its being advanced. The magnetic clutch is normally energized so as to advance the ointer for a definlte period, at the end of w ich period a clock mechanism closes a contact for an instant to complete a circuit which withdraws the brake from the pointer, allowing the latter to assume a position correspondin to the speed during e precedinginterva. The

I brake is only off for an instant, and immediately after it is again applied the magnetic clutch circuit is openedfor an instant, allowing the pointer advancing mechanism to return to the zero position. The pointer is thus set at short intervals to corres 0nd to the speed which may be in either (firection be employed, if desired.

' My invention, therefore, consists in the features of construction and in the arrangement and combination of elements herelnafter set forth and particularly pointed out in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this specification.

In the accompanying drawings, in which I have shown one embodiment of m invention, Fi ure 1 is a sectional view 0 my devieW of the same, certain parts ing broken away; Fig. 3 is a detail view showing the pointers; and Fig. his a view showin the general arrangement of. the parts an the electric circuits. j

Referring to the drawings, 10 is an electric motorpreferably of the three-phase speed of the shaft 11, e s eed of which is'to be indicated, by means ereinafter set forth. The motor is cared to a rotating member 12 having teeth 13 at its periphery by means of the shaft 14 and worm 15, so that the member 12 will be constantly rotated as the motor is driven. This member is mounted so as to rotate freely on the shaft 16, as by means of the ball bearin 17 between the member and the pedesta 1& Secured to the member 12, so as to rotate therewith, is a magnet 19,'having its terminals secured to contact rings 20 and 21 secured to but insulated from the under side of the member .12. -A second member 22 is loosely mounted upon the shaft 16 and adja: cent to the magnet 19, so that when the magnet is energized it acts as a clutch to lock the member 22 to member-l2 so that the will: rotate to ether. The member '22, 1s spring-returned by means of the spring 23, so that when the magnetic clutch releases, it will return to the starting position. A pair of pointers 24 and 25, which may be distinas, for instance, black an red, are loosely mounted upon the shaft and also spr1ng-returned by means of their respective spr ngs and two pointers one for each direction may vice on ine 11 of Fig.2; Fig. 2 is aplan typedriven at a speed proportional to the.

guished from each other b different colors,

26. and 27. These pointers are arranged to move over a scale 28 which is calibrated to read. in revolutions per minute, miles per hour, or i 1 any desire unit. These pointers pass over the scale in o posite directions, so that one pointer,as, or instance, pointer 25,-1uoving to the right indicates a forward direction, and pointer 24 will indicate a reverse direction. The member 22 is provided with a stud 28 which projwts upward, so as to engage the ointers, as shown. brake 29 is normally orced into contact with the hubs of the pointers by means of a spring 30. p This brakeis sufiicient to keep t e pointers from returning in response to the tensions of their springs, but is not sufli cient to revent the, pointers from being advanced y the stud 28. The brake 29 is controlled by a ma et 31, which at intervals is energized an attracts the brake 29 to release the oin'ters. Circuits of the mag-' nets 31 an 19are tperiodically made and broken by means 0 timeswitches, which may be an ordinary clock mechanism 32, as shownin Fig. 4, provided with a contacting arm 33, which successively engages the contacts 34 and 35. The circuit of the magnet 19 is ,normally closed, so that the closing of its corresponding contact 35 in the timing mechanism energizes a relay magnet 36, which attracts the armature 37 a ainst the tension of the spring 38 to open t e circuit of the magnet 19. p

The circuit arrangements and method of operationare as follows: A direct current is supplied through the mains 39 and 40 to a threeart commutator 41, secured to but insulate from the shaft 11. The three parts of this commutator are respectivel con, nected to the contact rings 42, 43 an; 44 by conductors 42, '43 and 44. These rings are connected by means of conductors 45, 46 and 47 and brushes 45', 46' and 47 with the motor 10, which in this instance is a threehase motor. As the shaft revolves, the

irect current in the mains 39 and 40 will be transmitted to the motor 10 in impulses having a three-phase relation, so as to revolve the motor at a speed proportionati 1 the speed of and in a direction correspond ing to that of the shaft 11 in a manner well understood in the art. The motor will, therefore, be constantly rotated at 'a point remote from the shaft 11 at a speed proportionate to that of the shaft. The motor will drive the member 12 and the magnet 19, which, as before stated, is normally energized, and will, therefore, carry with it the member 22, which in turn will advance the ointers 24 or 25 in a direction correspon mg to the direction of rotation of the motor. Let it be assumed that it is desired to 'set the pointer at intervals of five seconds. The ro-i tation of the motor during these five seconds carries the pointer 25, for instance,-

- spee around to the right a distance which on the scale will correspond to the speed of the shaft. At the end of this interval the-contact arm 33 engages the contact 34 and closes a circuit as follows: from the battery B' through conductor 48 to contact arm 33 an to magnet 31, conductors-50 and 51, back to the battery. Thepointers are thus relieved of the brake and allowed to respond to the tension of their res ective springs. This contact is, however, onFy closed foran instant, and immediately thereafter the contact arm enga es the contact 35, closing a circuit as 01 ows: from the battery B, through conductor 48', contact arm 33, to contact 35, conductor 52, magnet 36, and conductor 51, back to the battery. The armature 37 is thus attracted against the tension of the spring 38, so as. to open the circuit of the ma not 19 at the point 53, which circuit is as ollows: from the battery B, through conductor 54, to contact ring 21 through brush 21', thence through the magnet 19, contact ring 20, and brush 20', conductor 55, armature 37, conductors 56 and 51, back to the battery. The ma et 19 bein deenergized, the member 22 flies back to t e starting position in response to the tension of its spring. Suppose, for instance, that the pointer is in a position indicating 80 revolutions and the s eed is changed to 81 during the interval 0 five seconds. The motor Wlll drive the member 12, which in turn will drive the pointer through a certain angular distance corresponding to 81 revolutions on the scale. The stud 28 will move the pointer ahead from the position it occupies to one corresponding to 81 revolutions. At the end of five seconds the contact is closed at 34, which ener izes the magnet 31, to release the ointer. n this case, however, it is, held rom turning by the stud 28 the brake to again be applied, and passes to contact 35 deener 'zin the magnet 19 and allowing the moth 'er 2 and stud 28 to return, the pointer being retained in the position at 81. Now, suppose that in the next five seconds speed changes to 79. The stud 28 is as before carried up to a position corres onding to 79 revolutions. At the end of ve seconds the ointer is relieved of its brake and will fly ack as far as the stud. The brake is then applied and the stud flies back to the startin position. In this way the ointer is ma e to correspond to the at the end of every interval of five seconds, and if a change has taken place the" pointer is correspond ngly moved. If the direction of rotation is reversed, the direction of rotation of the motor will be likewise reversed, which will reverse the direction of movement of the stud and thereby move the pointer 24 so as to indicate the contact 34, through conductor ,49'

The contact then leaves 34, allowing indicate fractions of a revolution, which is very desirable 1n some cases,as, for lnstance,

on trial trips, when the screws are being calibrated. Moreover, this device may be operated at a high speed without danger of error.

I have shown my invention as embodied in a certain specific type of mechanism and as arranged to operate in a definite way, but it should be clearly understood that I do not limit my invention to the particular construction nor to .the mode of operation shown, except in so far as it is limited by the claims annexed hereto.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is,

1. A speed indicator comprising a rotatable member and means whereby said member is constantly driven from the part the speed of which is to be indicated, a second member, means for periodically driving said second member with a continuous motion from said first member, an indicating device, and direct connection between the second memher and the device for advancing the latter.

2. A speed indicator comprising a rotatable member and means whereby said member isconstantly driven from the part the speed of which is to be indicated, a second member, electrically-control]ed means for periodically driving said second member from said first member with a continuous motion, an indicating device, and direct connection between the second member and the device for advancing the latter.

3. A speed indicator comprising a constantly rotating member, a second member, electrically-controlled means for periodically driving said second member from said first -member with a continuous motion, a spring-returned indicating device, means in connection with the second member for directly engaging the said device and advancing the same, and means for holding the device in advanced position.

4. A speed indicator comprising a constantly rotating member, a second member, electrically-controlled means for periodically drivin said second'member from said first member with a continuous motion, a sprin -returned indicating device, direct conn ction between the second member and said device for advancing the latter, and electrically-controlled means for holding the device in advanced position and periodically releasing the same.

5. A speed indicator comprising a constantly rotating member, a spring-returned member, electrically-controlled means for periodically locking said members together and unlocking the members to release the same, a spring-returned indicating device, means in connection with the second member for advancing the said device, and means for holding the same in advanced position.

6. A speed indicator comprising a constantly rotating member, a spring-returned member, electrically-controlled means for periodically locking said members together and unlocking the same, a retracted indicating device, means in connection with the second member for advancing the said device. and electrically'controlled means for holding the device in advanced position and periodically releasing the same.

7. A speed indicator comprising a member adapted to be constantly rotated in one direction, a spring-returned indicating device, electromagnetically-controlled driving mechanism between said rotating member and said device for rotating the latter in the same direction, and a timing mechanism arranged to periodically close an electric cir cuit to operate the driving mechanism.

8. A speed indicator comprising a member adapted to be constantly rotated in one direction, a spring-returned member, electromagnetically-controlled driving mechanism between said members whereby they rotate together, a timing mechanism arranged to periodically close an electric circuit to 0 erate the driving mechanism, an indicating device, and direct driving connections be tween said second member and the device for advancing the latter.

9. A speed indicator comprising a member adapted to be constantly rotated, a second member, electrically-controlled means for locking said members together, and a timing mechanism arranged to periodically close an electric circuit to operate said locking means.

10. A speed indicator comprising a mem ber adapted to be constantly rotated, a spring returned member, electromagnetic means for locking said members together, and a timing mechanism arranged to periodically open and close an electric circuit to operate said locking means.

11. A speed indicator comprising a mem ber adapted to be constantly rotated in one direction, a spring-returned pointer, electromagnetically controlled driving mechanism between said rotating member and said pointer for rotating the latter, an electromagnetically-controlled retaining device for said pointer, and timing mechanism arranged to make and break an electric circuit through the retaining and driving mechanisms successively.

12. A speed indicator comprising a member constantly rotating in one direction, a spring-returned member, electromagnetic driving mechanism between said members whereby they rotate together, a timing mech anism adapted to periodically close an electric circuit to energize said driving mechanism, a spring-returned pointer, means in connection with the spring-returned mem her for advancing said pointer, and means for retaining said pointer in advanced position when released by the advancing means.

13. A speed indicator comprising a constantly rotating member, a spring-returned member, electromagnetic drivmg mechanism between said members whereby they rotate together, a spring-returned pointer, direct driving connection between the spring-returned member and the ointer for advancing the latter, electrical y-controlled means normally operating to retain the pointer in advanced position, and a timing mechanism arranged to make and break an electric circuit through the retaining and driving mechanisms successively.

14. A speed indicator comprising an electric motor, a rotatable member driven thereby, a spring-returned member, electromag netic driving mechanism between said members whereby they rotate together, a springreturned pointer advanced directly b said second member, an electrically-control ed de vice normally operating to prevent the return of said pointer, and a time switch arranged to release the pointer and its advancing member successively.

15. A speed indicator comprising an electric motor, a rotatable member driven thereby, a spring-returned member, electromagnetic driving mechanism between said members, a pair of spring returned pointers adapted to be advanced in opposite directions by said second member, an electricallycontrolled device normally operating to prevent the return of said pointers, and a time switch arranged to release the pointers and their advanclng member successively.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 27th day of February, 1906.

. JOHN L. HALL.

- \Vitnesses:

BENJAMIN B. HULL, HELEN ORFORD. 

